Issue link: http://trailridermagazine.uberflip.com/i/1088954
March 2019 33 The 200 Jackpiner was KTM's 30th Anniversary Edi on, com- memora ng the first Penton/ KTM motorcycle, conceived in the year of 1967. With a dis- placement of 200cc, KTM brass elected to dress the 200LE in the same color blue as the original Penton 175 Jackpiner. Named a er the incredibly tough Jack- pine Enduro. KTM fans had been clamoring for a new small bore woods bike. The exis ng 125 pla orm was very much outdat- ed, lacking primary kick star ng (requiring finding neutral to kick) and it s ll retained the le -side kick lever. The earlier design 125 bo om-end wasn't up to the task of suppor ng an addi onal 50 to 75cc. It was high me for a new design. This all new 200cc power plant, sharing the same bo om-end of the 125, was quite revolu onary at the me as it incorporated a hydraulic clutch, a first for off-road motorcycles. Also gone was the an quated right-side chain drive. The 200 Jackpiner chassis was revolu onary as well, and was such a departure from KTM's of the past. It was also the very first PDS (Progressive Damping System); no linkage, just a solid shock mount on the swing arm. PDS was designed by Ohlins and as with KTM's of the mid 90's, was fi ed with an Ohlins shock. Forks were huge 50mm Marzocchi's. Light and nimble, the Jackpiner was quite a depar- ture from what KTM customers had been used to. What's inter- es ng is this then-new design is very similar to KTM's XC-W line of today. Woods riders have embraced the PDS suspension for its suppleness and lack of main- tenance-prone linkage. Pushing 22 years later, the test of me has proven that the design works incredibly well.